Bush Overrules Powell and Seeks 
Pro-Lifer for Important State Dept Post

May 26, 2001—Washington, DC: A pro-life adviser who has represented the Vatican's interests at U.N. conferences on social issues is one of two people being considered for the top State Department job on population and refugees, U.S. officials said on Thursday. 

The candidates are John Klink, who has dual Irish-American citizenship and is an adviser to the Vatican's U.N. mission, and Alan Kreczko, who is acting assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, they said. 

The post controls one of the department's biggest portfolios, with about 140 people and a $750 million budget. Some of that cash goes toward so-called "family planning" programs whose philosophy is opposed by the Vatican and pro-life organziations. 

The White House is planning to reject pro-abortion Secretary of State Powell's preferred candidate -- Kreczko -- in favor of Klink. After considering a number of candidates to head the population, refugee and migration bureau -- including at least one pro-life candidate, Powell settled on Kreczko. 

Amy Coen, head of the pro-abortion group Population Action International, expressed her opposition to the appointment. "One has to wonder what message the United States is sending the U.N. and the world by choosing such an identified Holy See supporter, delegate and mouthpiece," she said. 

The White House takes the lead in appointing candidates for government jobs who have to be approved by Congress, where the defection of pro-abortion Vermont Sen. James Jeffords from the Republican Party meant that pro-abortion Democrats could win control of key committees such as Judiciary. 

As adviser to the Holy See mission to the United Nations, Klink attended UNICEF board meetings to monitor their activities for the Vatican. 

Klink has participated in numerous U.N. conferences for the Vatican on women's and social issues. At a 1999 population and development conference, the U.S. and Vatican delegations clashed over abortion language in the final document. Lead Vatican negotiator Klink fought to emphasize parental rights over abortion. That conference was a follow up to a 1994 meeting in Cairo where abortion was a key issue.